Safety of Flight CH-47-99-02

 

         

01 07 062330Z  AUG  99  OO  PP  UUUU  AA  ZYUW
                                                              
FROM
:CDRAMCOM REDSTONE ARSENAL AL//AMSAM-SF-A//
TO
:AIG 8881
:AIG 9004
:AIG 7471
:AIG 12124
:USMILGP BUENOS AIRES AR//ARMY AND AF SEC//
:DEFAIR MATERIAL CANBERRA ACT AS//DAAP-AF//
:CDRUSARDSG CANBERRA ACT AS//AMXIP-AS//
:ARGENTINE AIR ATTACHE FMS WASHINGTON DC
:EGYPT AF FMS CAIRO EG//ED/MA//
:USOMC CAIRO EG//AV//
:ODC ATHENS GR//ODCSA//
:CDR1STBN228THAVN SOTO CANO HO//AVN-AMO//
:CHJUSMAG SEOUL KOR//MKAR-AV//
:ROK ARMY FMS PUSAN KOR//ALC-LSD-L//
:CDR160THSOAR FT CAMPBELL KY//AOAV-SI//
:CDRBGAD RICHMOND KY//SIOBG-GC//
:USDAO RABAT MO//AF//
:ODC THE HAGUE NL//AVIATION SAFETY//
:RNLAF MATERIAL THE HAGUE NL
:RNLAF OPERATIONS THE HAGUE NL
:CDRUSASAC NEW CUMBERLAND PA//AMSAC-SALO-UK//
:CHUSAS RIYADH SA//ASAV//
:SAO SINGAPORE SN//AVIATION SAFETY//
:ODC MADRID SP//ASM//
:SPAIN ARMY FMS MADRID SP
:AIT TAIPEI TW
:TAIWAN ARMY FMS TAIPEI TW
:CJUSMAG THAI BANGKOK TH//MAGTAR-FS//
:ROYAL THAI AF FMS BANGKOK TH//BANGSUE DEPOT//
:ROYAL THAI ARMY FMS BANGKOK TH//DUSIT ORDANCE DEPOT//
:CDRUSARDSG LONDON UK//AMXSN-UK-SE//
:ODC LONDON UK
INFO
:FAA SOUTHWEST RGN HQ FORT WORTH TX//ASW-100//
:CDRAMC ALEXANDRIA VA//AMCMR/AMCCS/AMCSM-WAA//
XMT
:
ACCT
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TEXT
:UNCLAS
SUBJECT - SAFETY-OF-FLIGHT MESSAGE, EMERGENCY, RCS CSGLD-1860(R1),
IMMEDIATE GROUNDING OF ALL H-47 SERIES AIRCRAFT (CH-47-99-02).
NOTE - THIS IS A SAFETY OF FLIGHT MESSAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN
TRANSMITTED TO UNITS SUBORDINATE TO ADDRESSEES.  ADDRESSEES
SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RETRANSMIT THIS MESSAGE TO ALL SUBORDINATE
UNITS, ACTIVITIES OR ELEMENTS AFFECTED OR CONCERNED.  THE
RETRANSMITTAL SHALL REFERENCE THE MESSAGE.  ACTION ADDRESSES WILL
IMMEDIATELY VERIFY THIS TRANSMISSION TO CDR, AMCOM, ATTN:  AMSAM-
SF-A (SOF COMPLIANCE OFFICER).
1.  PRIORITY CLASSIFICATION -
                              NOTE
            SEE AR 95-1, PARA 6-6A, FOR NONCOMPLIANCE
            AUTHORITY OF MAJOR COMMANDERS.
     A.  AIRCRAFT IN USE - UPON RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE THE
CONDITION STATUS SYMBOL OF THE CITED AIRCRAFT SHALL BE CHANGED
IMMEDIATELY TO A RED //X//.  AIRCRAFT ON RED //X// STATUS SYMBOL
WILL BE MAINTAINED IN FLYABLE STORAGE.
     B.  AIRCRAFT IN DEPOT MAINTENANCE - SAME AS PARA 1A.
     C.  AIRCRAFT UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE - SAME AS PARA 1A.
     D.  AIRCRAFT IN TRANSIT -
          (1)  SURFACE/AIR SHIPMENT - SAME AS PARA 1A.
          (2)  FERRY STATUS - SAME AS PARA 1A.
     E.  MAINTENANCE TRAINERS - SAME AS PARA 1A.
     F.  COMPONENT/PARTS IN STOCK INCLUDING WAR RESERVES AT ALL
LEVELS (DEPOT AND OTHERS) - N/A.
2.  TASK/INSPECTION SUSPENSE DATE - IMMEDIATE GROUNDING.
3.  REPORTING COMPLIANCE SUSPENSE DATE - NO LATER THAN 27 AUG 99
PER PARA 14A OF THIS MESSAGE.
4.  SUMMARY OF PROBLEM -
     A.  A CRACKED SECOND STAGE PLANETARY GEAR WAS DISCOVERED
DURING OVERHAUL.  THE CRACK WAS CREATED DURING MANUFACTURE AND WAS
NOT DETECTED DURING INSPECTION.  THE INSPECTION OF 11 ADDITIONAL
GEARS REVEALED AN ADDITIONAL CRACKED GEAR.  A FAILURE OF THE GEAR
IN FLIGHT WOULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF THE AIRCRAFT.
     B.  AS A PRUDENT MEASURE OF SAFETY, THE ARMY IS GROUNDING ITS
FLEET OF H-47 HELICOPTERS UNTIL A FULL RECORDS SEARCH AND
INSPECTIONS CAN BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE
DISCREPANT PARTS.  A ONE TIME FLIGHT TO RETURN TO HOME STATION IS
AUTHORIZED AT GROSS WEIGHT NOT TO EXCEED 42,000 LBS, ALTITUDE NOT
TO EXCEED 3000 FT AGL, AND AN AIRSPEED NOT TO EXCEED 90 KNOTS.
AN ADDITIONAL MESSAGE IS EXPECTED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING WEEK WHICH
DEFINES UN-GROUNDING REQUIREMENTS.
5.  END ITEMS TO BE INSPECTED - ALL H-47 SERIES AIRCRAFT.
6.  ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS TO BE INSPECTED - N/A.
7.  PARTS TO BE INSPECTED - N/A.
8.  INSPECTION PROCEDURES - TO BE DETERMINED, A SUBSEQUENT SAFETY OF
FLIGHT MESSAGE WILL FOLLOW.
9.   CORRECTION PROCEDURES - SAME AS PARA 8 ABOVE.
10.  SUPPLY/PARTS AND DISPOSITION - N/A.
11.  SPECIAL TOOLS, JIGS AND FIXTURES REQUIRED - N/A.
12.  APPLICATION - AIRCRAFT DOWNTIME WILL BE CHARGED TO DEPOT
MAINTENANCE.
13.  REFERENCES - N/A.
14.  RECORDING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS -
     A.  REPORTING COMPLIANCE SUSPENSE DATE (AIRCRAFT) - PER AR 95-
1, UPON ENTERING REQUIREMENTS OF THIS MESSAGE ON DA FORM 2408-13-1
ON ALL SUBJECT MDS AIRCRAFT, FORWARD A PRIORITY MESSAGE, DATAFAX
OR E-MAIL TO CDR, AMCOM, ATTN AMSAM-SF-A (SOF COMPLIANCE OFFICER).
DATAFAX NUMBER IS DSN 897-2111 OR (256) 313-2111.  E- MAIL ADDRESS
IS "SAFEADM@REDSTONE.ARMY.MIL".  THE REPORT WILL CITE THIS MESSAGE
NUMBER, DATE OF ENTRY IN DA FORM 2408-13-1,AIRCRAFT MDS, AND
SERIAL NUMBERS OF AIRCRAFT IN NUMERICAL ORDER.
     B.  THE FOLLOWING FORMS ARE APPLICABLE AND ARE TO BE
COMPLETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH DA PAM 738-751, 15 MAR 99 -
            NOTE - FOR ULLS-A USERS, USE APPLICABLE "E" FORMS.
          (1)  DA FORM 2408-13, AIRCRAFT STATUS INFORMATION
RECORD.
          (2)  DA FORM 2408-13-1, AIRCRAFT INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE RECORD.
          (3)  DA FORM 2408-15, HISTORICAL RECORD FOR AIRCRAFT.
15.  WEIGHT AND BALANCE - N/A.
16.  POINTS OF CONTACT -
     A.  TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS MESSAGE IS MR. LARRY
WIESCHHAUS, AMSAM-AR-E-I-C-H, DSN 897-3341 OR (256) 313-3341,
DATAFAX IS DSN 897-4348.  E-MAIL IS
"LARRY.WIESCHHAUS@REDSTONE.ARMY.MIL".
     B.  LOGISTICAL POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS MESSAGE IS MR. NORM
HUSTON, SFAE-AV-CH-L, DSN 897-3617 OR (256) 313-3617.  E-MAIL IS
"HUSTONN@PEOAVN.REDSTONE.ARMY.MIL".
     C.  FORMS AND RECORDS POC FOR THIS MESSAGE IS MS. ANN
WALDECK, AMSAM-MMC-RE-FF DSN 876-5564 OR (256) 876-5564, DATAFAX
IS DSN 746-4904 OR (256) 876-4904.
E-MAIL IS "WALDECK-AB@ REDSTONE.ARMY.MIL".
     D.  SAFETY POC FOR THIS MESSAGE IS MR. ROBERT D. BROCK, AMSAM-
SF-A, DSN 788-8632 OR (256) 842-8632.  EMAIL IS
"BOB.BROCK@REDSTONE.ARMY.MIL".  THE ALTERNATE POC IS MR.
HOWARD CHILTON, AMSAM-SF-A, DSN 897-2068 OR (256) 313-2068,DATAFAX
IS DSN 897-2111 OR (205) 313-2111.
E-MAIL IS "HOWARD.CHILTON@REDSTONE. ARMY.MIL".
     F. FOREIGN MILITARY SALES RECIPIENTS REQUIRING CLARIFICATION
OF ACTION ADVISED BY THIS MESSAGE SHOULD CONTACT: CW5 JOSEPH L.
WITTSTROM, SECURITY ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT, AMSAM-SA, DSN  897-
0681 OR (256) 313-0681.  EMAIL IS "WITTSTROMJL@REDSTONE.
ARMY.MIL". MR. RONNIE W. SAMMONS, AMSAM-SA-CS-NF, DSN 897-0869 OR
(256)313-0869.  DATAFAX IS DSN 897-0411 OR (256) 313-0411. EMAIL
IS "SAMMONSRW@REDSTONE.ARMY.MIL".  HUNTSVILLE, AL IS GMT MINUS 6
HRS.
     G.  AFTER HOURS CONTACT AMCOM COMMAND OPERATIONS CENTER
(COC) DSN 897-2066/7 OR (256) 313-2066/7.